The Doctrine of the Church (Part 11)
9/24/2014
The Doctrine of the Church (Part 11)
1
9/24/2014
“…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The Meaning of the Word "Church." • Thus, the literal meaning is ‐ a call out assembly.
• A called out Assembly of Baptized Believers gathered together for – Acts2:42; Phil. 3:3 1. Doctrine 2. Fellowship 3. Breaking of Bread 4. Prayers 5. Worship
2
9/24/2014
The Origin of the Church “When and where did the church actually begin?”
The Church begin on the Day of Pentecost
3
9/24/2014
The Church is not Israel • (I Corinthians 10:32) “Give none offence, neither to the Jews (Israel), nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.”
• Covenant theologians teach that the church has become God’s elect people, as Israel once was.
The Church is the Body of Christ • I Cor. 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. • Eph. 4:12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
4
9/24/2014
Christ is the head of the Church Eph. 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”
The Word of God is to be the Churches only rule of faith and practice!
The Church is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth I Tim. 3:15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Pillar = base; post; support Ground = support; basis
5
9/24/2014
Jesus Christ alone is to have the Preeminence in His Church
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)
6
9/24/2014
7
9/24/2014
1. The Head of the Body
2. The Bridegroom and the Bride
3. The Vine and the Branches
8
9/24/2014
4. The Shepherd and the Sheep
5. The High Priest and a Kingdom of Priests
6. The Cornerstone and the Living Stones
9
9/24/2014
The New Testament Church had Officers
(Philippians 1:1) “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.”
10
9/24/2014
• “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…” Matthew 16:18 • “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it…” Psalm 127:1 • “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock…and every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which build his house upon the sand…” Matthew 7:24, 26
• “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. In whom ye are also builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit…” Eph. 2:19‐21
11
9/24/2014
What does it mean that Jesus is the cornerstone? • In Biblical times, a cornerstone was used as the foundation and standard upon which a building was constructed. Once in place, the rest of the building would conform to the angles and size of the cornerstone. In addition, if removed, the entire structure could collapse.
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (I Peter 2:5‐9)
12
9/24/2014
• “As a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ…” I Cor. 3:10
13
9/24/2014
• We build our Church / God builds His Church – Isa. 55:8‐9; Matt. 16:18 • We add members to our Church / God adds Believers to His Church – Acts 2:47; I John 2:19 • We borrow for our Church / God pays for His Church – Matt. 6:24; Phil. 4:19 • We make sinners comfortable in our Church / God makes sinners uncomfortable in His Church – Acts 5:13; II Tim. 4:2 • We bring the world into our Church / God sends His Church into the World – John 17
Charles Spurgeon – “The devil hath seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of its mission is to provide entertainment to the people, with the view of wining them to Christ…Providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church…Entertainment ministries will, in the long term promote worldliness…”
1834‐1892
14
9/24/2014
• We chose our pastors in our Church / God gives pastors to His Church – Eph. 4:11‐12; I Cor. 12:11, 18 • We appoint Church leaders with man’s credentials in our Church / God appoints men with His credentials in His Church – Jer. 3:15; Titus 1:5‐9 • We rule our Church by majority vote / God rules His Church through the pastoral leadership ‐ Heb. 13:7, 17; I Tim. 5:17; I Thess. 5:12‐14 • We play the worlds music to reach the lost in our Church / God wants the music in His Church to exalt Him and edify believers – Ps. 149:1; II Cor. 6:14‐7:1; Eph. 5:18‐1
• We entertain our youth in our Church / God challenges youth in His Church – I Tim. 4:12; I John 2:14; Titus 2:6 • We call for the doctors first in our Church / God wants us to call for the Elders first in His Church – Mark 5:26; James 5:14‐16 • We major on feasting and fellowship in our Church / God urges fasting and prayer in His Church ‐ Mark 9:29; Luke 5:34‐35 • We focus on quick results in our Church / God focuses on lasting fruit in His Church– John 15:1‐17; I Cor. 15:58
• We measure a churches spiritual maturity by the number of people attending, amount of ministry the church is involved in and how much money the church collects. • God measures the spiritual maturity of a church by ‐ > The yieldedness of each member to the Lord ‐ (Eph. 6:6) > The holiness of the church body ‐ (Rom. 12:1‐2) > A loving spirit within the fellowship ‐ (I Cor. 13:1‐8) > The ability of the church to teach and apply Biblical principles (obedience) ‐ (Heb. 5:11‐14) > And the fulfilling of the Great Commission ‐ (Matt. 28:19‐20)
15
9/24/2014
The Biblical Method (philosophy) of Church Growth and Ministry ‐ Ephesians 4:11‐16 This passage of Scripture should form the philosophy of church ministry in the mind of every pastor and church.
A philosophy is a process of thought that governs the conduct and shapes a person's understanding of life. It is a set of principles that directs our conduct in life.
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Warning concerning false philosophy Colossians 2:8
16
9/24/2014
God's philosophy of Church ministry ‐ "The perfecting of the saints. . ." NOTE: The goal, aim and attention of church ministry should be on "Perfecting the saints for the work of the ministry. . ."
HOW THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED?
Spiritual gifted men are to equip, train, instruct, teach and disciple believers to maturity ‐ (Ephesians 4:11‐12 ; Acts 6:1‐6) • Apostles ‐ Wrote the Word of God • Prophets ‐ Communicated the Word of God • Evangelists ‐ Applied the Word of God • Pastor‐teachers ‐ Teach the Word of God
17
9/24/2014
Apostles and prophets established the church with their preaching and teaching of the Scriptures ". . . [the Church was] built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. . ." Ephesians 2:20
• Evangelists and pastor‐teachers build upon that foundation with their teaching and application of Scripture ‐ ". . . take heed how [you] buildeth thereupon [that foundation]." I Corinthians 3:10
The Results of Following God's Philosophy of Church Growth and Ministry Ephesians 4:13‐16 • Unity of Faith ‐ True unity will never be achieved without doctrinal purity ‐ Romans 16:17‐18 • Knowledge of the Son of God (Personal knowledge) ‐ Philippians 3:10 • Mature believers "Perfect man" ‐ II Timothy 3:17 • Loving in Convictions "Speaking the truth in Love" ‐ I Corinthians 13:1‐8 • Growing Body ‐ Ephesians 4:16; I Peter 2:1‐2
18
9/24/2014
If growth is the goal, it must be produced God's way. If not, the church will lose its salt and light and will become like the world in order to reach the world ‐ This is the state of the Luke‐Warm church today ‐ Revelation 3:14‐22
19
The Doctrine of the Church (Part 11)
1
9/24/2014
“…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The Meaning of the Word "Church." • Thus, the literal meaning is ‐ a call out assembly.
• A called out Assembly of Baptized Believers gathered together for – Acts2:42; Phil. 3:3 1. Doctrine 2. Fellowship 3. Breaking of Bread 4. Prayers 5. Worship
2
9/24/2014
The Origin of the Church “When and where did the church actually begin?”
The Church begin on the Day of Pentecost
3
9/24/2014
The Church is not Israel • (I Corinthians 10:32) “Give none offence, neither to the Jews (Israel), nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.”
• Covenant theologians teach that the church has become God’s elect people, as Israel once was.
The Church is the Body of Christ • I Cor. 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. • Eph. 4:12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
4
9/24/2014
Christ is the head of the Church Eph. 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”
The Word of God is to be the Churches only rule of faith and practice!
The Church is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth I Tim. 3:15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Pillar = base; post; support Ground = support; basis
5
9/24/2014
Jesus Christ alone is to have the Preeminence in His Church
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)
6
9/24/2014
7
9/24/2014
1. The Head of the Body
2. The Bridegroom and the Bride
3. The Vine and the Branches
8
9/24/2014
4. The Shepherd and the Sheep
5. The High Priest and a Kingdom of Priests
6. The Cornerstone and the Living Stones
9
9/24/2014
The New Testament Church had Officers
(Philippians 1:1) “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.”
10
9/24/2014
• “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…” Matthew 16:18 • “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it…” Psalm 127:1 • “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock…and every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which build his house upon the sand…” Matthew 7:24, 26
• “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. In whom ye are also builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit…” Eph. 2:19‐21
11
9/24/2014
What does it mean that Jesus is the cornerstone? • In Biblical times, a cornerstone was used as the foundation and standard upon which a building was constructed. Once in place, the rest of the building would conform to the angles and size of the cornerstone. In addition, if removed, the entire structure could collapse.
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (I Peter 2:5‐9)
12
9/24/2014
• “As a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ…” I Cor. 3:10
13
9/24/2014
• We build our Church / God builds His Church – Isa. 55:8‐9; Matt. 16:18 • We add members to our Church / God adds Believers to His Church – Acts 2:47; I John 2:19 • We borrow for our Church / God pays for His Church – Matt. 6:24; Phil. 4:19 • We make sinners comfortable in our Church / God makes sinners uncomfortable in His Church – Acts 5:13; II Tim. 4:2 • We bring the world into our Church / God sends His Church into the World – John 17
Charles Spurgeon – “The devil hath seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of its mission is to provide entertainment to the people, with the view of wining them to Christ…Providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church…Entertainment ministries will, in the long term promote worldliness…”
1834‐1892
14
9/24/2014
• We chose our pastors in our Church / God gives pastors to His Church – Eph. 4:11‐12; I Cor. 12:11, 18 • We appoint Church leaders with man’s credentials in our Church / God appoints men with His credentials in His Church – Jer. 3:15; Titus 1:5‐9 • We rule our Church by majority vote / God rules His Church through the pastoral leadership ‐ Heb. 13:7, 17; I Tim. 5:17; I Thess. 5:12‐14 • We play the worlds music to reach the lost in our Church / God wants the music in His Church to exalt Him and edify believers – Ps. 149:1; II Cor. 6:14‐7:1; Eph. 5:18‐1
• We entertain our youth in our Church / God challenges youth in His Church – I Tim. 4:12; I John 2:14; Titus 2:6 • We call for the doctors first in our Church / God wants us to call for the Elders first in His Church – Mark 5:26; James 5:14‐16 • We major on feasting and fellowship in our Church / God urges fasting and prayer in His Church ‐ Mark 9:29; Luke 5:34‐35 • We focus on quick results in our Church / God focuses on lasting fruit in His Church– John 15:1‐17; I Cor. 15:58
• We measure a churches spiritual maturity by the number of people attending, amount of ministry the church is involved in and how much money the church collects. • God measures the spiritual maturity of a church by ‐ > The yieldedness of each member to the Lord ‐ (Eph. 6:6) > The holiness of the church body ‐ (Rom. 12:1‐2) > A loving spirit within the fellowship ‐ (I Cor. 13:1‐8) > The ability of the church to teach and apply Biblical principles (obedience) ‐ (Heb. 5:11‐14) > And the fulfilling of the Great Commission ‐ (Matt. 28:19‐20)
15
9/24/2014
The Biblical Method (philosophy) of Church Growth and Ministry ‐ Ephesians 4:11‐16 This passage of Scripture should form the philosophy of church ministry in the mind of every pastor and church.
A philosophy is a process of thought that governs the conduct and shapes a person's understanding of life. It is a set of principles that directs our conduct in life.
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Warning concerning false philosophy Colossians 2:8
16
9/24/2014
God's philosophy of Church ministry ‐ "The perfecting of the saints. . ." NOTE: The goal, aim and attention of church ministry should be on "Perfecting the saints for the work of the ministry. . ."
HOW THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED?
Spiritual gifted men are to equip, train, instruct, teach and disciple believers to maturity ‐ (Ephesians 4:11‐12 ; Acts 6:1‐6) • Apostles ‐ Wrote the Word of God • Prophets ‐ Communicated the Word of God • Evangelists ‐ Applied the Word of God • Pastor‐teachers ‐ Teach the Word of God
17
9/24/2014
Apostles and prophets established the church with their preaching and teaching of the Scriptures ". . . [the Church was] built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. . ." Ephesians 2:20
• Evangelists and pastor‐teachers build upon that foundation with their teaching and application of Scripture ‐ ". . . take heed how [you] buildeth thereupon [that foundation]." I Corinthians 3:10
The Results of Following God's Philosophy of Church Growth and Ministry Ephesians 4:13‐16 • Unity of Faith ‐ True unity will never be achieved without doctrinal purity ‐ Romans 16:17‐18 • Knowledge of the Son of God (Personal knowledge) ‐ Philippians 3:10 • Mature believers "Perfect man" ‐ II Timothy 3:17 • Loving in Convictions "Speaking the truth in Love" ‐ I Corinthians 13:1‐8 • Growing Body ‐ Ephesians 4:16; I Peter 2:1‐2
18
9/24/2014
If growth is the goal, it must be produced God's way. If not, the church will lose its salt and light and will become like the world in order to reach the world ‐ This is the state of the Luke‐Warm church today ‐ Revelation 3:14‐22
19
